Tag: japanese-cinema

UPDATE #115 (4/22/26): I Wrote a Documentary?! A Sneak Peak at “KEIZO MURASE: THE LAST MONSTER MAKER”

Howdy there, readers!

A few weeks ago, I mentioned some big upcoming projects I couldn’t wait to tell you about. And when it comes to big projects, they don’t get much bigger than an actual, honest-to-goodness feature-length documentary film.

And while said film was officially revealed to the world last month (via an exclusive news drop at Kaiju United), I wanted to make sure you knew about it, too!

So, for those who might not have heard, there’s a new kaiju-related documentary coming out soon. A doc celebrating the remarkable life and career of the legendary suit maker behind Godzilla, Mothra, King Ghidorah, Varan, Baragon, Kamen Rider, and innumerable other iconic characters. A doc I’m beyond honored to have written, produced, appeared in, and served as historian/creative consultant for!

The official poster for Keizo Murase: The Last Monster Maker. How many references to his storied career can you spot?
Copyright  ©2026 ET13 Productions

To fully explain the awesomeness of this project, I’ve opted to forego my usual rambling and simply post the full press release I wrote for the film here. Hey, if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it!

Read on for all the juicy info:

SRS Cinema’s upcoming Blu-ray release of the highly anticipated Brush of the God will include a feature-length documentary on the film’s legendary director. Directed by Elijah Thomas, Keizo Murase: The Last Monster Maker pulls back the curtain on a one-of-a-kind artist, telling the inspiring story of the beloved craftsman whose masterful work with monster suits and props literally re-sculpted the face of Japanese sci-fi/fantasy cinema.

The documentary – the first of its kind in English and created with the blessing of the Murase family – spotlights every known project overseen by the revered sculptor, representing nearly 100 films/TV episodes from 1958’s The H-Man to the 2025 documentary The Monster and The Old Man, and including exclusive insights into Murase creations and contributions never before discussed outside Japan.

The Last Monster Maker brings together more than two-dozen collaborators, friends, family members, fans, and historians to celebrate Murase’s life and artistry. Special guests include Shinichi Wakasa (creature designer, Godzilla 2000), Daisuke Sato (director, Howl from Beyond the Fog), Matt Frank (artist, Mothra: Queen of the Monsters), Yoshikazu Ishii (director, Yuzo: The Biggest Battle in Tokyo), Ed Godziszewski (co-author, Godzilla: The First 70 Years), and Naoto Murase (son of Keizo Murase and CEO of Twenty Co.).

Synopsis:

Artist. Innovator. Teacher. Inspiration.

For more than 70 years, Japan’s handcrafted visual effects films have thrilled, delighted, and inspired viewers from around the world. But only one remarkable man presided over the entire length and breadth of the artform. From his humble beginnings as a modeling assistant in 1958 to his acclaimed directorial debut Brush of the God in 2024, the legendary Keizo Murase spent his career dedicated to the art of monster making, bringing life to many of Japan’s most iconic and beloved kaiju characters. But behind every rampaging monster and transforming superhero were the hands of a dedicated artist, whose contributions to the Japanese film industry might have been forgotten, if not for a dedicated group of close friends, longtime admirers, and fans from every corner of the globe.

Now, in the wake of his passing and the release of his first and last feature film as director, this group has united to share their stories about Murase as a man, a mentor, and an inspiration. For the first time in the English-speaking world, the life, career, and legacy of this singular creative visionary are revealed and celebrated in a feature-length tribute that sheds detailed light on the accomplishments of Japan’s last great monster maker, and preserves the stories of those who knew and loved him best.

“Mr. Murase was a pillar for the world of kaiju and tokusatsu,” says Thomas. “I am really excited for audiences to learn about the amazing career and life led by him. Working on this project has been such an eye-opener for me and I’ve learned so much. My hope is the audience does, as well.”

“The impact of Murase-san’s artistry cannot be overestimated, and it deserves to live on forever,” adds Daniel DiManna, screenwriter, producer, historian, and creative consultant on the film. “It has been the honor of a lifetime to be part of preserving his story through this documentary. May it bring joy and inspiration to monster lovers and stand as a worthy tribute to the soul of a true master.”

The team behind the documentary also includes narrator Matt Burkett (creator/host of Monstrosities, bonus feature producer for Kamen Rider Dyad), composer Gratton Conwill (Disectoid, Amityville 2000), editor Jackson Gibbens (co-host, Kaiju Conversation), and more.

Keizo Murase: The Last Monster Maker will be available as a bonus feature on SRS Cinema’s Blu-ray release of Brush of the God. The set is expected to ship between late April and late May, 2026.

PREORDER LINK: https://srscinemastore.com/products/brush-of-the-god-blu-ray?srsltid=AfmBOop2-o0VnuDfnzMLndU1u6Av1uq6LNuy2yr-Zu2pqOHIgdboeVD0

ABOUT ET13 PRODUCTIONS

Founded in 2019, ET13 Productions acts as the in-house production studio for filmmaker Elijah Thomas. The company’s first major production was the 2022 short film S.O.S. Seek Shelter. The company has produced over half a dozen short films since its founding. Most recently, ET13 produced Elijah’s largest-scale short films: Edo Kami no Gyakushu and the Amityverse: Endgame segment, The Amity Q. ET13 Productions has also housed the popular tokusatsu-oriented podcast Kaiju Conversation since 2019.

ABOUT SRS CINEMA

SRS Cinema LLC is among the leaders in ultra-low-budget indie film distribution, having evolved to its current form from its roots as “Salt City Home Video” in 1992. They have handled rights to over 300 movies domestically and worldwide. SRS Cinema now distributes DVD exclusively through MVD, while their Sub Rosa branch handles limited special edition VHS releases.

Well, there you have it!

Needless to say, this has been a beast of a project to work on. This documentary is a true labor of love, produced across multiple continents and made possible by a remarkable team, the support of SRS Cinema, and an incredible group of assembled interviewees ranging from historians and collaborators to the two sons of Keizo Murase, who both generously took the time to speak about their father’s life and legacy.

The film might even feature some of you! A month or so ago, I put out a call on social media for kaiju fans to submit photos/videos of themselves with Murase at G-Fest or other events he attended. If you submitted your own pics or vids, congrats! Your tribute will be included and preserved in the doc forever!

It’s very easy to throw around sensational phrases like “there’s never been a kaiju documentary like this before” or “you’ll hear information in this doc you’ve never heard anywhere else.” But hand to heart, both of these statements are absolutely true. My dear friend and partner in crime on this project, director Elijah Thomas, and I have worked hard to assemble something truly definitive, a testimony of Murase’s life and career that’s as comprehensive and thorough as possible. Elijah (who’s making his feature film directorial debut with this doc!) has truly cooked up something special, and we can’t wait to share what we’ve discovered with kaiju fans everywhere.

There will be much more to say and share about this film in the coming weeks and months as its release draws near, but needless to say, I’m thrilled and honored beyond words for the opportunity to have paid tribute to this one-of-a-kind artist. The story of Keizo Murase is singularly remarkable and deeply inspiring, and it has been an honor to be a part of telling it.

As a recap, this doc will be released as a co-feature on SRS Cinema’s upcoming Blu-ray release of Brush of the God, Murase-san’s final film. Click the link in the press release above to preorder your copy (they should be shipping within the next month!).

That should just about do it for this very long, very overdue update. And yet, would you believe… there’s still more cool stuff on the horizon?

I’ve got additional announcements and updates coming soon, including my G-Fest schedule, more news about my upcoming book (which releases in less than a week!), and some reveals for what my next books (yes, “books” plural) will be!

Until then, thank you for continuing to support all my crazy kaiju-related endeavors. So many of these incredible opportunities and blessings are only possible because of you clicking the links, reading the stories, buying the books, leaving the likes, and spreading the word. I will never take that gift for granted. You and your kindness are appreciated beyond words.

Until next time, stay kind, stay safe, and stay grateful. Thank you so much for being here.

-Daniel

UPDATE #112 (2/4/26): Full Cover Reveal for “G-Cinema” (And Other Book Info/Shenanigans)

Hi there, GNP readers… welcome to 2026!

Oh, the year started 35 days ago? We’re somehow already a month into 2026? Well, in that case… welcome to February!

All kidding aside, this is the first GNP update of the year, and it’s set to kick off an absolute doozy of an 11 months. There’s so much in the pipeline this year – from massive writing and home video projects to new GNP chapters/books/short stories, convention appearances, and exciting collaborations – that my head is spinning from just thinking about how insane and busy 2026 will be. But don’t worry, it’s the good kind of insane and busy!

And to kick things off, it’s time to talk about possibly the biggest thing on my list: a little somethin’ I wrote that’s finally set to release this year…

That’s right, it’s official… my new book “G-Cinema: An Exploration and Celebration of Japan’s Monster King” has been revealed in all its fiery, pre-orderable, “holy crap this is actually happening” glory!

A few days ago, the book’s publisher, Fonthill Media (a member of the Pen And Sword Books family of publishers) did a full reveal of the newly orange-ified cover (a slight tweak of the lighter-colored version I shared last year – isn’t it friggin’ striking?) and jumped full steam into the promotion process. They were kind enough to share the book via social media, both on their own pages and by sharing links in multiple Godzilla fan groups on Facebook. All the while, they and I worked behind the scenes to finalize everything from copy edits to image proof approvals.

And now, at long last, the final product is done and ready to hit bookstore shelves.

Absolutely. Surreal.

Since I’ve gotten some questions from readers about the specifics of the release, here’s some quick info on what you can expect, when you can expect it, and how all this madness is gonna play out:

  • The book actually has two release dates. Since Fonthill Media is based in the UK, merry old England will be getting the book first, and very soon, since it’s releasing on February 28th! Two months later, it’ll release in the US on April 28th. Think of it like, oh, say, a classic Godzilla film getting released in Japan first, and then popping up in America afterword. If you’ve seen multiple release dates for the book online, that’s why!
  • The book will not just be on Amazon. This is a full release and will be available via multiple online booksellers and – most remarkably – in physical bookstores! Links for a handful of these stores are at the bottom of this post.
  • While currently listed at 224 pages on most websites, “G-Cinema” will actually be 242 pages of text and 274 pages in total (the extra 32 pages are full-color image plates). So, you’ll be getting even more Godzilla history than advertised!

Last but not least, here’s the final synopsis for the book:

He’s iconic. He’s atomic. And at 70 years young, he’s still the King of the Monsters!

Ever since his silver screen debut back in 1954, Godzilla has maintained a mighty hold on the collective imaginations of cinema lovers around the world. Originally conceived as a powerful metaphor for Japan’s fears of nuclear destruction, the character has undergone a complex metamorphosis over an incredible seven decades and more than three dozen films. From allegory to superhero, from atom-age menace to children’s matinee star, from arthouse to grindhouse and back again, Godzilla has survived by adapting and reacting to the changing cultures and generational expectations of the countries—and the filmmakers—that bring him to life. In this exploration and celebration of Godzilla’s first 70 years, the full story of Japan’s kaiju icon is revealed through detailed histories, behind-the-scenes anecdotes, cultural connections, and contextualizing thematic analyses. Beginning with his postwar origins and continuing through his many rises, falls, revitalizations, and reinterpretations, this comprehensive companion to the Godzilla franchise seeks to place the character in his proper historical perspective and, by doing so, shed light on the depth, the flexibility, and the fun that’s kept him relevant and beloved for generations.

And, just for fun, here’s the author bio that will appear on the back flap:

Daniel DiManna is a film historian, artist, voice actor, and professional goober. An award-winning marketing writer by day and an unapologetic monster-nerd by night, Daniel is the author of multiple short stories/novellas and creator of the Godzilla Novelization Project, a fan-driven endeavor to write novel adaptations of every Japanese G-flick. His academic writing has been published via multiple magazines/websites. He is a frequent panelist at G-Fest and can be heard hosting audio commentaries for SRS Cinema’s kaiju Blu-rays and guesting on multiple kaiju-related podcasts. Daniel lives in Sylvania, Ohio, surrounded by DVDs, books, and an unhealthy number of monster toys.

I’m truly speechless at how dreamlike and borderline unreal this all is. It’s one thing to sit down at a desk and do some writing – something I do every day of my life – and another thing entirely to see a book with my name on it slowly coalesce and come into being. To craft and publish a book has been a dream of mine since childhood, an aspirational goal that – despite the hard work and good fortune I’d need to get there – I always hoped in my heart was possible.

And now, here it is. An honest-to-goodness book, written by me, available to purchase from just about anywhere books are sold – including physically at several of the world’s largest bookstores.

Just… wow.

Thank you so very much to the amazing people at Fonthill Media and Pen and Sword Books (Jay Slater, Jasper Hadman, editor Tony Walton, cover designer George Kalchev, and a remarkable team of typesetters and artists) for making this book look like a million bucks, and for allowing me to take this journey. You only get to write your first book once, and I’m so fortunate to have done so with this amazing team.

And thank you to you, the readers of the GNP, for following me this far and being the most supportive crew of Godzilla nerds a fella could ask for. I don’t think I’ll ever be able to adequately express how profoundly grateful I am for the opportunity to have brought this dream project to life, and your continuing belief in me is a crucial and humbling cornerstone in that opportunity. From the bottom of my heart, I thank you.

“G-Cinema: An Exploration and Celebration of Japan’s Monster King” releases in bookstores on February 28th in the United Kingdom and on April 28th in the US of A. You can secure your copy from your bookseller of choice at the links below:

All of these links (and any future ones) will be added to the Press & Appearances page on the GNP website. If you’re looking for a specific place to buy the book, that’ll be your one-stop shop moving forward!

And now, the countdown to release can officially begin! The next few months will be an exciting time; I’m already coordinating interview requests and planning for signings and maybe even a few surprises at this year’s G-Fest. It’ll be a great time, and I’ll keep you all informed and updated as cool things continue to happen. What a gift all of this is, and what an extraordinary year it will be! Thank you for coming along on the journey.

I’ll be back soon with more. Until then, stay happy, stay safe, and stay kind.

All the best,

-Daniel